What documents do you need to check in Papers, Please?

Every entrant needs a passport, but the other required documents change by day and entrant type. Early in the game you check entry tickets and entry permits. Later, workers need work passes, Arstotzkan citizens need ID cards, foreigners need ID supplements or access permits, asylum seekers need grants of asylum, diplomats need diplomatic authorization, and all entrants need vaccination certificates from Day 26 onward.

When do entry permits start in Papers, Please?

Entry permits start on Day 4. From that day until Day 26, most foreign entrants need a valid passport and entry permit. The entry permit must match the entrant's name, passport number, stated purpose, duration of stay, expiration date, and Ministry of Admission seal.

When do access permits replace entry permits?

Access permits start on Day 27. They replace both the entry permit and ID supplement for most foreign visitors, workers, and transients. Workers still need a work pass, diplomats still use diplomatic authorization, and asylum seekers still use grants of asylum.

Why do I get citations after denying someone?

Starting on Day 18, denials require a Reason for Denial stamp. You usually need to prove the discrepancy in Inspect Mode first, then stamp both Denied and Reason for Denial. Denying without the required reason stamp can still trigger a citation.

Do diplomats need entry permits in Papers, Please?

No. Diplomats need a passport and diplomatic authorization that includes access to Arstotzka. They do not need an entry permit, ID supplement, or access permit, although they still need a valid vaccination certificate once vaccination rules begin.

Papers Please Documents Guide — Complete Checklist by Day

Not sure what to check today? This guide lists every important document in Papers, Please, when it appears, who needs it, and which fields cause the most citations. For the full gameplay overview, return to the main Papers, Please guide.

Documents at a Glance
Required Documents by Day
Passport Checklist
Entry Ticket and Entry Permit Checklist
Work Pass Checklist
Arstotzkan ID Card Checklist
ID Supplement and Access Permit Checklist
Diplomatic Authorization Checklist
Grant of Asylum Checklist
Certificate of Vaccination Checklist
Fast Inspection Workflow
Common Discrepancies TOP 10
Discrepancies That Look Valid But Aren’t
FAQ

Documents at a Glance

Document / Rule	Active Window / First Appears	Who Needs It	What to Check First	Common Mistake
Passport	Day 1	Everyone	Nation, issuing city, expiration, photo, name	Approving an expired passport
Entry Ticket	Days 1-3	Early foreign entrants	Date printed on ticket	Accepting an old or wrong-date ticket
Entry Permit	Day 4	Most foreigners, Days 4-26	Name, passport number, purpose, duration, expiration, seal	Forgetting to compare purpose and duration with spoken answers
Arstotzkan ID Card	Day 4	Arstotzkan citizens	Name, DOB, district, photo, height, weight	Missing invalid district or weight discrepancy
Work Pass	Day 6	Foreign workers	Name, work-until date, seal	Work pass expires before stated stay ends
Diplomatic Authorization	Day 8	Diplomats	Name, passport number, issuing country, access to Arstotzka, seal	Missing “Arstotzka” in access list
ID Supplement	Day 13	Foreign visitors, workers, transients, immigrants, Days 13-26	Height, weight, appearance, expiration	Missing contraband search after weight mismatch
Wanted Criminals List	Day 14	Matching entrants	Face/name in daily bulletin	Forgetting bulletin photos are enforceable
Reason for Denial	Day 18	All denied entrants	Prove discrepancy, then stamp reason	Denying correctly but missing the blue reason stamp
Grant of Asylum	Day 21	Asylum seekers	Fingerprints, passport number, seal, expiration	Approving without checking fingerprints
Passport Seizure Slip	Day 24	Confiscated Arstotzkan passports	Confiscation rule + valid remaining documents	Denying someone just because passport was confiscated
Certificate of Vaccination	Day 26	All entrants	Name, passport number, polio, vaccine date	Missing expired or non-polio vaccination
Access Permit	Day 27	Most foreigners, Days 27-31	Name, passport number, purpose, duration, height, weight, expiration, seal	Still asking for Entry Permit or ID Supplement
Full Arstotzkan Passport Confiscation	Day 28	All Arstotzkan citizens	Confiscate passport, then process normally	Forgetting to confiscate valid Arstotzkan passports

Required Documents by Day

Use this table as a quick “what changed today?” checklist. If a day says “no new document,” keep following every rule already introduced.

Day	New Document / Rule	What You Should Check
Day 1	Passport required; only Arstotzkan citizens may enter	Passport nation and expiration basics
Day 2	Foreigners with valid passports may enter	Passport expiration, sex, photo, issuing city, and nationality
Day 3	Entry Ticket for foreigners	Ticket date must match the current date
Day 4	Entry Permit replaces Entry Ticket; Arstotzkans need ID Card	Foreigners: passport + entry permit. Citizens: passport + ID card
Day 5	No new document	Watch for named criminal/news events; continue passport and permit checks
Day 6	Work Pass for foreign workers	If purpose is work, require a work pass and check the work end date
Day 7	All Kolechians must be searched before approval	Search all Kolechians before any approval decision. Weapons or contraband found during search are grounds for denial regardless of otherwise valid documents
Day 8	Diplomatic Authorization appears	Diplomats need passport + diplomatic authorization, not entry permit
Day 9	No new document	Keep using Inspect Mode for identity and document mismatches
Day 10	No new document	Keep desk clean; supervisor visits begin to matter for wall items
Day 11	Forged seals become common	Compare seals on entry permits, work passes, and diplomatic authorizations
Day 12	No new document	Continue seal checks and standard document matching
Day 13	ID Supplement for most foreigners	Check height, weight, appearance, expiration, and thumbprint when needed
Day 14	Wanted Criminals list appears in bulletin	Compare entrant identity with daily wanted list
Day 15	No new document	Continue current rules; watch for scripted attack events
Day 16	Tranquilizer gun available	No document change; security events can interrupt the day
Day 17	No new document	Continue passport, permit, work pass, ID supplement, and wanted checks
Day 18	Reason for Denial stamp required	Prove a discrepancy, stamp Denied, then stamp Reason for Denial
Day 19	No entry from Impor	Deny Imporians; prove with passport nationality + rulebook
Day 20	No new general document	Continue all previous checks; EZIC route may affect specific entrants
Day 21	Grant of Asylum appears	Asylum seekers need passport + grant; verify fingerprints before approval
Day 22	No new document	Continue grant, ID supplement, and standard checks
Day 23	No new document	Weapon events become more important, but document rules stay the same
Day 24	Confiscate Arstotzkan passports from Altan district residents	Confiscate the passport, issue seizure slip, then approve/deny based on remaining validity
Day 25	No entry from United Federation	Deny United Federation citizens for the day
Day 26	Certificate of Vaccination for all entrants	Require valid polio vaccination certificate from everyone
Day 27	Access Permit replaces Entry Permit + ID Supplement	Most foreigners now need passport + access permit; workers still need work pass
Day 28	Confiscate all Arstotzkan passports	Confiscate every Arstotzkan passport before final approval/denial
Day 29	No new document	Late-game rules continue; keep vaccination and access permit checks fast
Day 30	No new document	Final inspection/audit pressure increases; avoid unnecessary citations
Day 31	Final day	Continue all active rules unless you are intentionally triggering an ending

Passport Checklist

Every entrant needs a passport unless a special passport seizure slip situation is already in play.

Check these fields first:

Field	How to Check	Why It Matters
Nation	Compare with active country bans	Some days ban specific nationalities
Issuing city	Compare with the rulebook regional map	Invalid cities are common early citations
Expiration date	Compare with current date	Expired passports are always invalid
Photo	Compare with entrant face	If unclear, use fingerprints
Name	Compare with all other documents	Name mismatch can indicate false identity
Sex	Compare with entrant appearance	Interrogate if it does not match
Passport number	Compare with permits, vaccination certificate, grants, and access permits	Mismatched numbers are easy to miss

Passport Speed Tip

Start each entrant by checking the passport’s expiration date, nation, and issuing city. These three checks catch many early-game errors before you waste time reading every extra document.

Entry Ticket and Entry Permit Checklist

Entry Ticket

Entry tickets matter only during the early entry-ticket phase and are replaced by entry permits on Day 4.

Check	Correct Condition
Date	Must match the current day
Entrant type	Required only when the current bulletin asks for it

After Day 3, entry tickets are obsolete. Do not accept an entry ticket when an entry permit is required.

Entry Permit

Entry permits are required for most foreign entrants from Day 4 through Day 26.

Field	What to Compare
Name	Passport name
Passport number	Passport number
Purpose	Entrant’s spoken answer
Duration	Entrant’s spoken answer
Expiration date	Current date
Seal	Valid Ministry of Admission seal

Purpose and Duration Cheat Sheet

Spoken Purpose	Permit Purpose	Duration Pattern
”Visiting”	Visit	Limited duration
”Transit”	Transit	Usually short stay
”Work”	Work	Must also have Work Pass from Day 6 onward
”Immigrating”	Immigrate	Forever

If the spoken answer does not match the entry permit, use Inspect Mode before denying.

Work Pass Checklist

Work passes are required for foreign workers starting on Day 6.

Field	What to Check
Name	Must match passport and permit/access permit
Work-until date	Must cover the full stay duration
Seal	Must be a valid Ministry of Labor seal
Purpose	Entrant must be entering for work

The most common work-pass mistake is approving a worker whose work pass expires before the entry permit or access permit duration ends.

Arstotzkan ID Card Checklist

Arstotzkan citizens need an ID card starting on Day 4.

Field	What to Check
Name	Match with passport
Date of birth	Match with passport
District	Must exist in the rulebook
Photo	Match entrant and passport
Height	Compare with booth measurement lines
Weight	Compare with scale

When Weight Does Not Match

A weight discrepancy can mean the entrant is carrying something hidden. Once search tools are available, do not approve until the discrepancy is resolved.

ID Supplement and Access Permit Checklist

ID Supplement

ID supplements are required from most foreign visitors, workers, transients, and immigrants from Day 13 through Day 26.

Field	What to Check
Height	Compare with wall measurement
Weight	Compare with scale
Appearance	Compare with entrant and photo
Expiration date	Compare with current date
Thumbprint	Compare after fingerprinting, when available

ID supplements are easy to overlook because they often contain physical clues, not just text.

Access Permit

Access permits begin on Day 27 and replace both entry permits and ID supplements for most foreigners.

Field	What to Check
Name	Passport name
Passport number	Passport number
Nationality	Passport country
Purpose	Spoken answer
Duration	Spoken answer
Height	Booth measurement
Weight	Scale
Appearance	Entrant appearance
Expiration date	Current date
Seal	Valid Ministry of Admission seal

Access permits make late-game inspections faster because one document combines the old entry permit and ID supplement checks.

Diplomatic Authorization Checklist

Diplomats first appear on Day 8.

Diplomats do not need an entry permit, ID supplement, or access permit. They need:

Required Document	What to Check
Passport	Must match issuing country and identity
Diplomatic Authorization	Must list Arstotzka as an allowed destination
Seal	Must be a valid diplomatic seal
Certificate of Vaccination	Required from Day 26 onward

Common mistake: approving a diplomat whose authorization does not include Arstotzka.

Grant of Asylum Checklist

Asylum seekers appear from Day 21 onward.

Field	What to Check
Passport	Required
Grant of Asylum	Required
Fingerprints	Must be verified before approval
Name	Match passport
Passport number	Match passport
Nationality	Match passport
Height / weight	Match booth and scale
Expiration date	Must be current
Seal	Must be valid

Asylum grants are slower than normal permits because fingerprints matter. Do not approve until the identity is verified.

Certificate of Vaccination Checklist

Vaccination certificates are required from Day 26 onward for every entrant.

Field	What to Check
Name	Match passport
Passport number	Match passport
Vaccine	Must include polio
Vaccination date	Must still be valid

Do not just check whether the entrant has a certificate. The certificate must specifically cover polio, and the vaccination must be current.

Fast Inspection Workflow

Use this order to reduce citations without slowing down too much.

Early Game: Day 1-6

Passport expiration
Passport issuing city
Current required paper: ticket, entry permit, ID card, or work pass
Name and passport number consistency
Stamp only after one proven discrepancy or full clearance

Mid Game: Day 7-18

Check active nationality rules first
Check required documents by entrant type
Compare name and passport number across all papers
Check purpose and duration against spoken answers
Check seals after Day 11
Use Reason for Denial from Day 18 onward

Late Game: Day 19-31

Check country bans and passport confiscation rules first
Check vaccination certificate
Check access permit or special document type
Resolve height, weight, and appearance discrepancies
Stamp Denied + Reason for Denial when rejecting

Common Discrepancies TOP 10

Rank	Discrepancy	Where It Appears	How to Catch It
1	Expired passport	Passport	Compare with current date
2	Invalid issuing city	Passport	Use regional map
3	Missing required document	Any day	Check rulebook before details
4	Name mismatch	Passport, permit, work pass, grant, access permit	Compare all names
5	Passport number mismatch	Permit, access permit, vaccination certificate, grant	Compare number line by line
6	Purpose mismatch	Entry permit / access permit	Compare with spoken answer
7	Duration mismatch	Entry permit / access permit	Compare with spoken answer
8	Forged or missing seal	Entry permit, work pass, diplomatic authorization, access permit, grant	Compare with rulebook seals
9	Weight discrepancy	ID card, ID supplement, access permit, grant	Compare with scale and search when needed
10	Missing Reason for Denial	Denials from Day 18 onward	Prove discrepancy first, then stamp reason

Discrepancies That Look Valid But Aren’t

Some citations feel unfair because the document looks “close enough” at first glance. These are the ones most likely to make new players search for why a discrepancy is not showing, why a citation appeared with no obvious reason, or why a valid-looking entrant was still wrong.

Looks Valid	Hidden Problem	What to Do
Passport issuing city exists somewhere in the rulebook	The city belongs to a different country or region than the passport claims	Compare the city under the passport’s exact issuing nation, not from memory
Work Pass seal looks normal	The seal shape, text, or typography does not match the Ministry of Labor example	Open the seal page and compare the mark directly
Vaccination Certificate lists a vaccine	The vaccine is not polio, or the vaccination date is no longer valid	Check both the vaccine name and date before approval
Entry Permit or Access Permit matches the passport	The entrant’s spoken purpose or duration does not match the document	Ask, compare the transcript, then use Inspect Mode if needed
Diplomatic Authorization looks official	Arstotzka is missing from the list of approved access countries	Deny after proving the missing access authorization
ID Supplement height looks close	The wall measurement does not actually match the printed height	Use the booth measurement and search/fingerprint tools when required
Name is only slightly different	It may be an alias, typo, or false identity	Fingerprint the entrant when the game allows identity verification
All dates look recent	One document can still expire before the current day or before the stated stay duration	Compare every expiration and work-until date, not just the passport

Fast Fix for “No Obvious Discrepancy” Citations

When you cannot find the reason, check in this order:

Current-day bulletin rule.
Missing document.
Expiration date.
Passport number.
Spoken purpose and duration.
Seal validity.
Height and weight.
Vaccination type and date.
Reason for Denial stamp.

Most “mystery” citations come from skipping one of these checks, not from the game hiding information.

Best Documents to Check First

If you are overwhelmed, prioritize in this order:

Active day rule — country ban, passport confiscation, vaccination, or access permit.
Missing document — easiest citation to avoid.
Expiration dates — fast to scan.
Passport number and name — common cross-document mismatches.
Purpose and duration — only after the basic documents exist.
Weight and appearance — slower, but important in late game.
Seal validity — critical after forged documents appear.

Documents by Entrant Type

Entrant Type	Early Requirement	Mid-Game Requirement	Late-Game Requirement
Arstotzkan citizen	Passport	Passport + ID Card	Passport + ID Card + Vaccination Certificate; passport may need confiscation
Foreign visitor / transient	Passport + Entry Ticket or Entry Permit	Passport + Entry Permit + ID Supplement	Passport + Access Permit + Vaccination Certificate
Foreign worker	Passport + Entry Permit + Work Pass	Passport + Entry Permit + Work Pass + ID Supplement	Passport + Access Permit + Work Pass + Vaccination Certificate
Immigrant	Passport + Entry Permit	Passport + Entry Permit + ID Supplement	Passport + Access Permit + Vaccination Certificate
Diplomat	Passport + Diplomatic Authorization	Passport + Diplomatic Authorization	Passport + Diplomatic Authorization + Vaccination Certificate
Asylum seeker	Not active early	Passport + Grant of Asylum	Passport + Grant of Asylum + Vaccination Certificate

Final Checklist Before You Stamp

Before approving, ask:

Does the entrant have every document required today?
Are all documents current?
Does the passport country violate a current ban?
Do all names and passport numbers match?
Does purpose/duration match what they said?
Are seals valid?
Are height, weight, and appearance resolved?
If denying, did you stamp Reason for Denial when required?

For route-specific outcomes, see the Papers Please All Endings Guide. If you are planning the resistance route, use the upcoming EZIC guide for day-by-day task decisions.